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A bacon cheeseburger on a plate with French fries.
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Bacon Cheeseburger with Special Sauce

Stacked with beef, bacon, double cheese, and a tangy sauce that pulls it all together. Cook it on the grill for smoky char or in a skillet for a crispy sear. This burger doesn’t hold back.
Prep Time15 minutes
Cook Time15 minutes
Total Time30 minutes
Course: dinner, lunch, Main Course
Cuisine: American
Keyword: bacon cheeseburger
Servings: 4 servings
Author: Dahn Boquist

Ingredients

For the Special Sauce:

  • ½ cup mayonnaise
  • 3 tablespoon sweet pickle relish
  • 2 tablespoons ketchup
  • 2 tablespoon yellow mustard
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar or pickle juice
  • ½ teaspoon garlic powder
  • ¼ teaspoon onion powder
  • Salt and pepper to taste

For the Burgers:

  • 1½ pounds ground beef 80/20 for best juiciness
  • Salt and pepper
  • 4 slices cheddar cheese
  • 4 slices Muenster cheese
  • 8 slices thick-cut bacon cooked
  • 4 hamburger buns I used brioche buns
  • burger toppings lettuce, tomato slices, onion, pickles, as desired

Instructions

Make the Special Sauce

  • In a small bowl, stir together all the sauce ingredients: mayo, ketchup, mustard, relish, vinegar, Worcestershire, garlic powder, onion powder, and a pinch each of salt and pepper.
    Mix until smooth. Taste and adjust salt as needed. If you prefer a sweeter sauce, add a teaspoon or two of sugar. Cover and refrigerate while you prep the burgers. (Bonus: it gets better after an hour.)
    Combining ingredients in a bowl to make special sauce for burgers.

Cook the Burgers

  • Divide the ground beef into 4 equal portions (about 6 ounces each). Form into patties slightly larger than your buns since burgers shrink when they cook. Make a shallow indentation in the center of each patty with your thumb to prevent puffing. Season both sides with salt and pepper right before cooking.
    Adding salt to hamburger patties.
  • Heat a cast iron skillet or grill over medium-high heat. Cook patties for 3 to 4 minutes on the first side, flip, and cook 2 to 3 more minutes for medium (or longer for your preferred doneness).
  • In the last minute of cooking, add a slice of cheddar and a slice of Muenster to each patty. Cover with a lid or tent with foil to help melt the cheese.
    Topping beef patties with cheese in a skillet.
  • Butter and toast your buns in a skillet or on the grill until golden.
    Toasting burger buns in a skillet.

Assemble

  • Spread special sauce generously on the top and bottom buns. Stack the burger with the beef patty, bacon, and your choice of condiments and toppings.
    Adding special sauce to toasted hamburger buns.

Notes

  • Use 80/20 ground beef for the juiciest burgers with great sear.
  • A thumbprint in the center of each patty helps prevent puffing as they cook.
  • Toasting the buns adds structure and keeps them from getting soggy.
  • Extra special sauce? Save it for dipping fries, you won’t regret it.

Nutrition

Serving: 1 serving | Calories: 1246kcal | Carbohydrates: 31g | Protein: 54g | Fat: 100g | Saturated Fat: 35g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 19g | Monounsaturated Fat: 36g | Trans Fat: 2g | Cholesterol: 224mg | Sodium: 1549mg | Potassium: 776mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 9g | Vitamin A: 682IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 430mg | Iron: 6mg
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